Observatory's urgent appeal on arrest and subsequent release of Mr. Andrei Paluda, and confiscation of his material

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your intervention in the following situation in Belarus.

Description of the situation :

According to the information received, on November 22, 2011, late at night, Mr. Andrei Paluda was arrested as he crossed the Lithuanian/Belarusian border with ten copies of the brochure “Results of Independent monitoring”, which the HRC Viasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee had published with the support of FIDH after observing the 2010 presidential election. The reports were seized by the customs officials who sent them to expert examination, labelling them as “magazines of oppositional character”. Mr. Paluda was subsequently released.

The Observatory denounces this confiscation as another violation of freedom of expression and a further threat in order to silence all independent voices in a context of violent repression in Belarus.

Actions requested:

The Observatory urges the authorities of Belarus to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Andrei Paluda as well as of all human rights defenders in Belarus

ii. Put an end to any kind of harassment - including at the judicial level - against all human rights defenders in Belarus;

iii. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, which provides in particular that "everyone has the right, individually and in association with others":

 "to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" (Article 1);

 "to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups" and "to communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations" (Article 5(b) and (c));

 "to offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms" (Article 9.3(c));

 "to solicit, receive and utilize resources for the express purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms through peaceful means" (Article 13).

iii. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Belarus.